Microtome section pickup and manipulator



pt. 13, 1966 H. D. METZ MICROTOME SECTION PICKUP AND MANIPULATOR Filed July '7, 1964 INVENTOR.

HOWARD D. METZ A TTOR NE Y5 This invention relates to a process for handling microtome sections of organic material and apparatus therefor. More specifically, this invention relates to the handling of microtome sections by means of an element which may be attached to the microtome section in a structurally sound and eificient manner such that manipulation of the section can take place without damage to the section and with expeditious handling thereof.

This invention is particularly suitable for use in pathology laboratories of hospitals and research institutions in that it provides laboratory personnel with a process and equipment for handling and processing microtome sections, the sections being ultimately mounted on glass microscope slides for further conventional processing and '-use.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the course of the following detailed description, wherein the single figure of the drawing is a perspective view showing somewhat schematically the instant device and typical process or manipulative steps.

As seen in the drawing, a microtome knife is schematically shown by arrow line 12 as moving back and forth to cut microtome sections 14 from the block 16 which carries an imbedded tissue specimen 18. Conventional microtome knives of this type produce thin slices or sections which slide over and rest on the upper surface of the knife 10 and must be removed therefrom for processing.

This invention provides a fine wire-like element 20 suitably mounted for vertical and horizontal movement to enable the engagement of the wire-like element with a portion of the section, the element being heated to melt or soften the section adjacent thereto followed by a cooling of the element to adhere the melted portion of the section thereto.

Upon vertical movement, the section 14 is lifted from the upper surface of the knife 10, as indicated in dotted lines above the block 16, the section 14 then being moved horizontally to a treatment container 22 where the section is allowed to engage the surface of the liquid 24 and become flattened and set in the usual manner. The set section is then raised out of the container 22 and deposited on a glass slide 26 previously positioned on a glass slide mounting platform 28, the element 20 being again heated to soften the section 14 adjacent thereto to enable disengagement of the element 20 therefrom by movement away from the section.

The block 16 is prepared in the conventional fashion, the biological tissue 18 being treated to remove water therefrom. The tissue is potted in and impregnated with a thermoplastic material, this material normally being a mixture of paraffins and beeswax and possibly plastic material.

The fine wire-like element 20 is preferably heated by electric current passing therethrough, the wire being a nicrome resistance wire, 22 gauge. It will be understood that the term fine wire-like element encompasses various configurations such as zigzag wires and ribbon-like elements, the particular function of the element 20 being to produce a temperature of about 50 C. when in contact with an outer border portion of a section 14, the

, element 20 preferably being positioned about inch United States Patent 0 3,272,348 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 handled by this process and apparatus is from 3 to 25 microns thick. Tests have shown that the desired adherence of the section 14 to the element 20 is substantially instantaneous upon the passage of current through the element and similarly the release of the section is substantially instantaneous upon the mounting of the section on the glass slide followed by further heating of the element. This apparatus and process are particularly effective in handling sections 5 to 15 microns thick.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a vertical moving means 30 for moving the frame 32 vertically and horizontal moving means 34 for movement of the frame horizontally. The frame 32 includes, at its lower end, pins 36, 36 to which are attached the fine wire-like element 20, suitable electric connections being made thereto for electrically heating the element 20, the electric lead 40 being suitably connected with switches (not shown) for control of the heating operation, as desired.

Control of the operation may be automatically accomplishedthrough suitable limit switches and the like; first means 30 is provided for vertically moving the element 20 into and out of contact with the section 14, second means 42 is provided for heating and cooling the element, third means 44 is provided for moving the presser foot, and fourth means 34 is provided for horizontal movement of the frame 32. A predetermined sequence of movement may be utilized.

schematically shown is a first power cylinder 50 for moving the frame 32 vertically, guide rods 52 passing through a horizontal bar 54 to control vertical movement of the frame 32, the horizontal bar 54 having bearings 56, 56 which receive horizontal rails 58, 58 on which the frame is horizontally moved.

Mounted on the frame 32 for relative movement thereto is a presser foot 60 operated by a second power cylinder 62, the power cylinder 62 vertically moving the wedge main member 64 between tapered guides 66, 66 to press the wire-like element 20 into firm and even contact across the entire microtome section 14 during the adhering step to avoid a bowing of the wire-like element. Bowing might result in adherence only at the ends of the section. The presser foot 60 insures sound contact of the element 20 with the section along its entire length. Suitable buffer springs 68, 68 enable compensating vertical movement of the presser foot upwardly into the main member 64 to cushion the effect thereof, the springs normally biasing the presser foot 60 downwardly away from the main member 64. It will be noted that the presser foot includes legs 70 which are slideably housed within the main member.

I claim:

1. A process for handling microtome sections of organic material and of material which will soften under heat which comprises engaging a surface of the section with a fine wire-like element, heating said wire-like element, allowing said heated wire-like element to soften a portion of said microtome section, and cooling said heated wire-like element to adhere the melted portion of said section thereto.

2. A process for handling microtome sections of organic material and of material which will soften under heat which comprises engaging a surface of the section with a fine wire-like element, said wire-like element being of a material which increases in temperature when electric current is passed therethrough, heating said wirelike element, allowing said heated wire-like element to soften a portion of said microt-ome section, and cooling said heated wire-like element to adhere the melted portion of said section thereto, and manipulating said resultant combined element and section as an integral unit.

3. A process for handling microtorne sections of organic material and of material which will soften under heat which comprises engaging a surface of the section with a fine wire-like element, said wire-like element being of a material which increases in temperature when electric current is' passed therethrough, heating said wire-like element, allowing said heated wire-like element to soften a portion of said microtome section, and cooling the heated wire-like element to adhere the melted portion of said section thereto, placing said combined element and section on a mounting slide, heating said element to soften the portion of said section adhering to said element, and removing said element from contact with the resultant softened portion of the section.

4. A process for handling microtorne sections of organic material and of material which will soften under heat 3 to 25 microns thick which comprises engaging a surface of the section with a fine wire-like element about inch from a side thereof, said wire-like element being of a material which increases in temperature when electric current is passed therethrough, heating substantially instantaneously said wire-like element to about 50 C.,

pressing said wire-like element into contact with said section along its length during the adhering of the element to the section to insure complete contact therewith, allowing said heated wire-like element to soften a portion of said microtorne section, and cooling the heated wire-like element to adhere the melted portion of said section thereto, placing said combined element and section on a mounting slide, heating said element to soften the portion of said section adhering to said element, and removing said element from contact with the resultant softened portion of the section.

5. A process as defined in claim 1 and including pressing said wire-like element into contact with said section along its length during the adhering of the element to the section to insure complete contact therewith.

6. Apparatus for handling microtorne sections of organic material and of material which will soften under heat comprising a fine wire-like element, first means for moving said wire-like element into and out of engagement with a section, second means for heating and cooling said wire-like element to soften the adjacent portion of said section and then adhere the section to said wire-like element and vice versa.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6 and including a presser foot movably mounted above said wire-like element and third means for moving said presser foot into and out of engagement with said wire-like element to insure sound contact of the element with the section when the element is heated to adhere the section thereto.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1954 Ferrari 16784.5

6/1957 Fener et a1 156272 

1. A PROCESS FOR HANDLING MICROTOME SECTIONS OF ORGANIC MATERIAL AND OF MATERIAL WHICH WILL SOFTEN UNDER HEAT WHICH COMPRISES ENGAGING A SURFACE OF THE SECTION WITH A FINE WIRE-LIKE ELEMENT, HEATING SAID WIRE-LIKE ELEMENT, ALLOWING SAID HEATED WIRE-LIKE ELEMENT TO SOFTEN A PORTION OF SAID MICROTOME SECTION, AND COOLING SAID HEATED WIRE-LIKE ELEMENT TO ADHERE THE MELTED PORTION OF SAID SECTION THERETO. 